Rocking horse



Nov. 17, 1953 COWSAR 2,659,602

ROCKING HORSE Filed June 21, 1951 INVENTOR;

I By Laws Cowsar F I 6. l if ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1953 ROCKING HORSE ou s o wsa L ngvi ex, assi n r of nehalf to Orville Ccw ar, Ne Lo d n cx- Application June 21, 1951, Serial No. 232,826

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved rocki horse.

As it is well known, rocking horses and similar devices have been in use for several years as toys or amusement devices for children. However, the usual rocking horse has one or more springs to provide substantially all of the power utilized to rock the device, leaving the occupant very little to do except remain astraddle the horse In this manner, the child is deprived of a pleasing and healthful exercise. Furthermore, in the event one of the springs breaks or becomes disconnected, the child is likely to be seriously injured.

Another popular type of rocking horse utilizes simple rockers as supports. The inherent noise emitted during the use of this type of device, as well as the scraping and scratching of furniture and floors, are far too well known to most parents. Furthermore, a child gets very little, if any, exercise when using this type of a roolging horse.

The present invention contemplates a novel hobby or rocking horse utilizing no springs. The various elements are pivotally interconnected in such a manner that the occupant of the horse must alternately stand and sit to obtain a rocking action. In this manner, the occupant will obtain a beneficial exercise while being amused. The horse may be made substantially any (is. sired size and therefore may be used as an exercising apparatus for older children 01' srowneups, as well as an amusement and exercising device for children. The base of the horse is stationary o pre l d he scra ching of floors and the like. Furthermore, the horse is Silent in operation.

An important object of this invention is to provide an amusement device to exercise as well as amuse the user thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rocking horse utilizing no springs.

Another object of this invention is to decrease the hazard to children and generally increase the safety of the home.

A further object of this invention is to eliminate the necessity of rockers for rocking horses and therefore the inherent disadvantages thereof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a safe and attractive rocking horse which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a novel rocking horse.

Figu e 2 is a s de eleva io al view of e cc ing horse shown in Fig. 1.,

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fi 1, r ferenc charact r 2 gen a y de na s. a ovel rockin h rse hav n a sub stantially rectangular shaped base portion 4. The base 4 is provide with spaced side rails 5 interconnected by forward and rearward end rails 8 and I0 respectively A suitable cross rail 12 may be provided to interconnect the medial portions of the side rails 6 if desired. It will be understood that the base 4 may be constructed out of any suitable material such as metal tubes, as shown, or wooden structural members (not shown).

A pair of upwardly extending apertured Israel;- ets M are secured in spaced relation in any desired manner on the medial portion of the rear end rail H]. A Suitable pin or bolt it; extends through the apertured brackets l4 and is secured thereto in any desired manner (not shown). The pin it pivotally supports the rear end 18 of a bar 29, hereinafter termed the rear bar, between the b eakers Hi- The rear ba .9 extend upardly from the end rail t at an o l que ang e toward he orwar end rail 8- The for ard end at o t rear bar .2 nivo a ly sec red by a pin 34 t the neck; po tion or a re resent t on 26 o a horses h a The head .26 is Pr erably formed out o Wood for con nience in m nuf cture and b pain ed r otherw e lore o simu ate a horses licad- A ur ed bar or strap .28 part all surrounds e head i? and s se ured the eto by any suita le means (not sho n. for d corative urpo es o ly Ted i tion. a s ita le rope or h lik .0 may b sec ed to the nose o tio of th head 25 to s mula e a ai or reinsa suppo t ro 5 is pivo ally s cu ed in t e n se por ion of t e head 26 c nd dow wa d y th refrom int pi ot l cont n w t a tr nsversel disposed rod 34. The d 34 i sup orted abo e t e ic arsi end rail 8 by a pair of spaced upwar y x endin aperured brack ts .5- Th ra ke s i a e se ured o he end a e in desir d manner such as by W ld o th li A pair o bar 38. h c nai c te med the terard bars. ar 'p votal s cured t the forward ends so to the tra sver rod 3. oi he ute sides cf t e b ckets 3a The rward ba 35 ex tend up dly i cm the ba e 4 at a blique angle towa d the ear end ra l "3. Furthermore.

the f rward. bars 38 con er toward the rear ends 52 thereof and cross the rear bar 20 at an-- interme a po tion the eo hismanner. the rear bar 9 may e p vot d between t e i n Ward ba s $8. and the bars 38' tur be pivoted over the bar 20 as will be hereinafter set forth. A suitable cross bar 133 may be provided 3 to interconnect the medial portion of the bars 38 for added strength if desired.

The rear end 44 of a cross bar 46 is pivotally secured by a pin 48 to the rear ends 42 of the forward bars 38. The cross bar 46 extends forwardly from the pin 48 directly above the rear bar 20. The forward end 50 of the cross bar 46 is pivotally secured by a pin 52 to an apertured bracket 54 extending upwardly from an intermediate portion of the rear bar 28. In this manner, the cross bar 46 will be tilted upon movement of either the forward bars 38 or the rear bar 28 as will be hereinafter set forth. Furthermore, since the rear bar and forward bars 38 are pivotally supported, at spaced points, the cross bar 46 through the medium of the pins 48 and 52 and the bracket 54 will limit the pivotal movement of the forward and rear bars 38 and 20 respectively.

A suitable seat 56 is secured in any desired manner (not shown) on the cross bar 46 to simulate a saddle for an occupant of the rocking horse 2. Suitable rope strands 58 or the like extend downwardly from the rear end 44 of the cross bar 46 to simulate a horses tail. A pair of curved bars 60 extend outwardly from an intermediate portion of the rear bar 20 underneath the seat 56 and function as stirrups for the horse 2. In addition, a transverse bar 62 is suitably secured to the horses head 26 in such a manner that an occupant of the seat 56 may place his hands thereon for additional support. It will be apparent that the various structural members may be formed out of either wood or metal, as desired. Also, the various bolts and pins will be provided with nuts (not shown) or other like means to retain the bolts and pins in assembly.

Operation In operation, an occupant of the rocking horse 2 places his feet on the stirrups 60 and alternately sits and stands to alternately impose his weight upon the seat 56 and the stirrups 60. In this manner, the weight of the occupant is alternately imposed upon the rear end 42 of the forward bars 38 and on a medial portion of the rear bar 20. When the weight of the occupant is imposed on the seat 56 the weight will be transmitted through the cross member 46 and pin 48 to the rear ends 42 of the forward bars 38 to pivot the bars 38 in a clockwise direction about the transverse rod 34. The rear end 44 of the cross bar 46 will therefore obviously be moved downward to tilt or rock the seat 56 in a rearward direction. It will also be noted that the pin 48 will be moved slightly to the right during its downward movement to simultaneously pull the cross member 46 to the right. The rightward movement of the cross member 46 is transmitted through the medium of the pin 52 and bracket 54 to the rear bar 20, thereby pivoting the bar 20 in a clockwise direction about the pin I6. It will be apparent that since the pins 48 and 52 are moved through difierent arcs of curvature, the distance therebetween will tend to vary as the bars 28 and 38 are pivoted. The cross member 46, being interconnected to the pins 48 and 52, therefore limits the pivotal movement of the bars 28 and 38 in a clockwise direction from the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the weight of the occupant is imposed on the stirrups 60, the bar 20 will obviously be moved in a counter-clockwise direction to move a bucking horse.

the pin 52 downwardly and slightly to the left. In this manner, the cross member 46 and seat 56 are tilted or rocked in a forward direction. Furthermore, the movement of the pin 52 is transmitted through the medium of the cross member 46 and pin 48 to simultaneously pivot the forward bars 38 in a counter-clockwise direction. The cross member 46 will again limit the pivotal movement of the bars 20 and 38. It will also be noted that during the clockwise pivotal movement of the bar 20, the head 26 will be tilted in a forward direction and during the counterclockwise movement of the bar 20, the head 26 will be tilted in a rearward direction to simulate The rod 32 will pivot on the transverse rod 34 during the pivotal movement of the head 26.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides an amusement device in the form of a rocking horse whereby the occupant or user thereof will obtain a beneficial exercise as well as amusement. The present rocking horse utilizes no springs which are likely to become broken or disconnected and injure the occupant of the horse. Furthermore, the present rocking horse utilizes a stationary base, thereby precluding scraping and scratching of floors and furniture. It is also apparent that the present invention provides a safe and silent operating rocking horse which may be economically manufactured.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it

' being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a rocking horse, comprising a substantially rectangularly shaped stationary base member of tubular construction, a bar pivotally connected at one end at a substantially medial point to the rear portion of the base, and extending forward over the base at an oblique angle, a pair of bars pivotally connected conterminous with the corners to the forward portion of the base and extending rearwardly over the base at an oblique angle, said pair of bars converging toward their rear ends and extending substantially straight to a point rearward of the front end of the first mentioned bar, a cross member pivotally secured at one end to the rear ends of said pair of straight bars, and pivotally secured at its opposite end to the first mentioned bar at a point above where the pair of bars extend past the first mentioned bar in such a manner to limit independent pivotal movement of said pair of bars and said first mentioned bar, a seat on the cross member, stirrups secured to the first mentioned bar at a point below the seat and the pair of bars, a head pivotally secured to the forward end of the first mentioned bar, handles on the head, and a support bar pivotally secured to the head and the forward portion of the base.

LOUIS COWSAR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,941,722 Stockil Jan. 2, 1934 

